[Today's Prayer] Greece Plans to Close 8 Minority Schools… Turkey Responds with Opposition

Turkey has strongly objected after Greece announced plans to close eight schools serving the Turkish minority within the country.

According to the Greek government gazette on the 20th (local time), the Greek Ministry of Education announced on the 13th that it plans to close 47 kindergartens and elementary schools in the region of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace starting from the 2026–2027 academic year, which begins in the second half of this year.

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However, strong opposition arose from Turkey after it was reported that eight of the schools scheduled for closure are schools that serve Turkish minority students.

On the 19th, Turkish Foreign Ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli issued a statement saying, "We strongly condemn Greece's decision to close eight Turkish minority elementary schools in Western Thrace under the pretext of insufficient student numbers."

Spokesperson Keceli claimed that this decision would reduce the number of Turkish minority schools in Greece to 76 and that preventing children from enrolling as first graders at schools in Xanthi (Greek name: Iskece) constitutes a "violation of the educational rights of minorities." The Komotini region is known to have a Turkish population approaching half of the area's residents.

Keceli added, "This oppressive decision violates the provisions of the Treaty of Lausanne," and stated, "Turkey supports the struggle for the rights and justice of the Turkish minority in Western Thrace."

Thrace, located in the southeastern part of the Balkan Peninsula, is a region where the borders of three countries—Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria—meet. The area within Greek territory is relatively farther west and is often referred to as Western Thrace.

During the period when the Ottoman Empire, the predecessor of the Republic of Turkey, ruled the region, Greeks and Turks lived together there. After World War I, Greece and Turkey fought a war and, based on the Treaty of Lausanne signed in 1923, exchanged approximately two million people living in both countries. However, some Turkish Muslim communities still remain within Greek territory.

Source: Yonhap News

"But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Heavenly Father, we hear the news that Turkey has strongly opposed Greece's announcement of plans to close schools serving Turkish minority students within its borders.

In this situation where the justification of insufficient student numbers conflicts with claims of violating the educational rights of Turkish minority students, please have compassion on the Turkish minority communities who are being affected in their education and daily lives.

May the Turkish church not ignore the struggles faced by the diaspora and the next generation of the Turkish people. Teach them to guide the next generation, who face educational limitations and social challenges, to follow what is right and to fear God.

May the Turkish church experience the blessing of trusting and relying on the Lord even when fear and anxiety come upon them. Guide them so that even in times of drought, their leaves remain green and the fruit of life never ceases.

In this final age when promises are broken and love grows cold, make the Turkish church a people who continue to love their neighbors and the next generation entrusted to them by God. Through them, may the gospel flow out and transform the spiritual atmosphere of the Turkish diaspora and the Muslim communities in Turkey.

Therefore, may the Turkish people and the Turkish church become a people who share the blessing of life among all nations. Turkey, may you become the beginning of revival among all nations!